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Testimonials

This is a great dynamic duo–Michael & Monika! Not only do they provide full service in assisting the public in locating Adult Family Foster Homes for loved ones, but they also educate you during this difficult time on the nuances of how our care system works (or doesn’t work!). On top of that, they are pleasant people, with big hearts. I highly recommend reaching out to them when you are faced with the complex process that is finding a safe, secure, and nice home for your loved ones.

Lon Hoss
June 12, 2017

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It’s hard to explain how grateful we are to Monika and Michael at Care Service Options. Having to find an assisted living facility for my stepfather, and having to do so very quickly, was one of the most stressful situations my husband and I can remember. We felt completely overwhelmed and had no idea where to begin. A social worker at Providence Hospital recommended Care Service Options very highly, and we soon learned why. In fact, after my very first conversation with Monika, I felt as if someone had lifted tons of pressure from my shoulders.

Both Monika and Michael have been at this for a long time. They’re intimately familiar with facilities in the Portland/Tri-County area, and they did a wonderful job of learning about my stepfather and giving us a list of facilities that might be a good match for him. This was brand new territory for us, and Monika and Michael helped us at every step along the way, from explaining the different levels of care, to suggesting what we should look for and what questions we should ask at each of the facilities we considered. They followed up with us regularly to see how our search was going, and they stuck with us until the end, when we successfully got my stepfather settled in an assisted living facility.

We can’t imagine how overwhelming it would have been to try doing this on our own. We are so grateful to Monika and Michael for their extraordinary help, their vast experience and knowledge, their sensitivity to the needs of my stepfather, their patience with us each time we got bogged down, and their unflagging commitment to see us through this very difficult process.

What an incredible resource!

Karen Miller
May 2017

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Dear Monika,

Thank you so much for being willing to meet with me and to share your wisdom and expertise! Since my parents live in Portland—and I live in Illinois—it’s been really important to me to find them someone who could help them make the complex choices they’ll be facing, in dealing with their illnesses and living their lives with them. I think Care Services Options is a real godsend for people in my situation: who want to help their parents but themselves live out of town. My stepfather greatly enjoyed meeting you, and I know he was impressed by your combination of wisdom and calm experience. You have such a great rapport with your clients, in which both respect and your desire to help them make the right choices shine through! I would gladly recommend Care Services to anyone who needs help working through the best options for living well with health challenges. And who doesn’t need help with that? It’s a hard thing, but your advice has definitely made it all seem much more surmountable. I wish you and your company great success – you deserve it!

Best wishes,John Randolph *********************************Hello Moniika – you located an adult foster care home for my mother M.F. And, to reiterated what I told you over the phone in that difficult week, I was very impressed with your efficiency and thoroughness. I was in a situation with challenging deadlines, and your good service made that challenge manageable. I appreciate your professionalism and efficiency. Thank you. JP Christy *********************************

Dear Monika – How lucky we are to have you in our corner; and to get such a wonderful loving provider to care for my mom in her last days. They even allowed her to bring her piano into their house, on which she played her last time just about 30 hours before she died. So, thanks for all that you do for families in crisis. Our mom got what she needed and when she needed it, and so did we. Love, Sue and Bob

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Monika & Laura,

Thank you both for your kindness! My brother Dave and I so appreciated our time with you yesterday and all the input you had for us regarding our care for Mom. We felt like a huge burden was lifted off our hearts, and even as I write this I am expecting a call back to schedule a visit with the In Home Care coordinator next week. What a blessing you are!!! Fondly, Sue

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Dear Monika, Your help was invaluable, thanks again for everything. Connie, Peggy and Morris.

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Hi Monika, What an angel you have been, helping us find a loving home for my sister. Thanks Ken & Pat

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Dear Monika, Thank you so much for sharing such valuable information with our senior group last Thursday. Your presentation created lots of interest and questions that will give us lots to think about. It’s wonderful to have access to your service and I am privileged to know of the important work you provide for your clients. Thank you again so much for being with us. God bless, Marilyn

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Dear Care Service Options care coordinators,

I just want to thank you for all your help in finding a good care home for my Mom. I wouldn’t have known where to begin researching. You were able to review the needs of my Mom and find several homes for us to visit that could provide the level of care my Mom requires. All of the homes we visited had competent and compassionate caregivers. We are sure the home we selected will provide my Mom with the support she needs and deserves. Thank you again for making our selection process so much easier during this rather difficult time. Kind regards, Jackie C.

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Care Service Options team,

Thank you so much for your presentation. We asked our planning team of 10 for comments. Everyone’s response was exceptionally prositive – here are a few: “One of the best”, “more interaction than other times”, very informative”, “delightful people and very helpful”, “ I feel enlightened about this whole are of concern”. Thanks from all of us! Zona

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Dear Monika,

Thank you so much for locating this great facility for my mother. She moved in last Thursday and is fitting in well. D.M’s daughter.

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“I am pleased to provide a letter of recommendation for Norm and Monika and Care Service Options, Inc. I have been with Providence for nearly 6 years as a Medical Social Worker – Discharge Planner. In my line of work, finding alternative living situations for patients when they are unable to return to their homes is a regular occurrence. In a city the size of Portland (surrounding suburbs) there are so many Retirement Homes, Foster Homes, Residential Care Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities. There are to many for me to have first hand experience on the current status of facilities and caregivers. I need to rely on a referral agency to help with these placements.” (Social Worker)

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I have worked with Norm and Monika of Care Service Options for most of my years as a discharge planner. I generally get Norm or Monika on the phone right away, or get a very prompt call back when I leave a message. I get to talk to a live person, not an automated menu machine. I provide an overview of information -the patient’s clinical picture, expected level of care needs, preferred area of town, contact names and numbers or involved family members, and expected discharge date from the hospital. Norm and Monika can take this information and have the families out touring three or more facilities within a few hours. They have successfully even helped families secure wonderful and satisfying care facilities when I have been faced with same-day discharges. (Hospital Discharge Planner)

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“Norm and Monika always put the patients care needs first. I have complete confidence in the quality of their work. I generally get feedback from families and patients about how the process went in finding care facilities, and all that have worked with Norm or Monika have been very satisfied. If you want the best, you will go with Care Service Options, Norm, Monika & Deborah” (Social Worker)

I would like to take this time to thank you for your very kind assistance in locating a facility for me to move my mother on such a short notice. When it became painfully obvious that she would not be able to remain in the Assisted Living facility where she had been for several years I was very concerned as to what I was going to do. I was on the freeway between Salem and Portland wondering what I was going to do when I suddenly remembered having met you some time previous and, much to my amazement, I found your phone number in my Palm Pilot. One brief phone call later my problems were solved. You seemed to know immediately what I needed and where it was to be found as quickly as I told you where I live. Everything was taken care in an unbelievable short time and the facility you directed me to took such fantastic care of her that it made my dealing with her last days so much easier. It had never occurred to me there was actually a need for your services until the need was in front of me. Isn’t that the way a lot of life is We don’t recognize a need until we have it and then can only hope there will be someone there to fill it. I will be happy to tell anyone who asks what a very special service you offer. (Edd Scott)

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Monika – thank you so much for sharing such valuable information with our Senior Group last Thursday. Your presentation created lots of interest and questions that will give us all lots to think about. It’s wonderful to have access to your service and I’m privileged to know of the import work you provide to your clients. Thank you so much for being with us. (Church Pastoral Minister)